DYING THOUGHTS. design ana end of this important change. What is our knowledge and faith, but to know and believe that heaven consists in the glory and love of God there manifested, and that it was purchased by Christ, and given by his covenant ? What is our hope, but " the hope of glory," which we through the Spirit wait for ? What is our love, but a desire of communion with the blessed God, begun here, and perfected hereafter? What Christ teaches and commands, he works in us by his Spirit. He sends not his Spirit to make men craftier than others for this world, but" wiser to salvation," and more holy and heavenly. "The children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light." Heavenly mindedness is the special work of the Spirit. In producing this change, the Spirit overcomes all opposition fi"om the wodd, the flesh, and the devil. Christ iirst overcame the world, and teaches and causes us to overcome it, even its flatteries and its frowns. "Our faith is our victory." Christ promised his Spi1·it to all true believers, to be in them as his advocate, agent, seal, and mark ; and indeed, the Spirit here, and heaven hereafter, are the chief of all his promises. 1'hat this Spi1·it is given to all true believe1·s, is evident by the effects of it. They have ends, affections, and lives, different from the rest of mankind. They live upon the hopes of a better life, and their heavenly interest overrules all the opposite interests of this world : in order to which they live under the conduct of divine authority; and to obey and please God is the great business of their lives. The men of the world discern this difference, and therefore hate and oppose them, because they find themselves condemned by their heavenly temper and conversation. Believers are conscious of this difference ; for they desire to be better, and to trust and love God more, and to have more of the heavenly life and comforts ; and when their infirmities make them doubt of their own sincerity, they _;vould not change their governor, rule,
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